Chapter 78: Schemes on all sides
Two weeks had passed since the Dimensional Gate fully opened. As expected, this period brought widespread devastation from all sides. The conflict had truly become a two-way invasion, with powers from the True World encroaching upon the Pocket World, and forces from the Pocket World attempting to breach the True World. In the midst of this chaos, countless swarms of monsters and demonic beasts wreaked havoc. It became apparent to all sides that there were no unified fronts, only alliances formed through necessity by certain powers.
Slowly but surely, the battles and schemes were encroaching upon areas not initially highly affected, such as the Fae Region. It was only a matter of time before that changed entirely.
In the Rudell Region, where things were escalating at a much faster pace compared to the Fae Region, Rudecka found herself at a crossroads as her worst fears began to materialize. Ultimately, the majority of her clansmen would not truly listen to her counsel on what needed to be done, so she consulted with her uncle about executing their secret plan.
She had already received covert intel: the Fanged Elf Kingdom had received four individuals from the outside who had breached their World Tree's defensive barrier and were even being treated as special guests. Many other organizations that had heard about a white beam of light piercing the Fanged Elves' barrier had dismissed it as some sort of interdimensional probing attack by invaders that were swiftly dealt with. Who could have possibly guessed such an unexpected turn of events had come about?
"The Margrave's acquaintances have appeared. They are special guests," read the telegraphed message.
This was a five-way war, considering only the major players: the forces in the Whispering Expanse True World, the Whispering Expanse criminals and vagabonds who aligned themselves with everyone and no one, the powerful monsters and creatures that appeared from the old and new lands after the opening of various dimensional rifts, all the forces in the Upper Lands, and finally, the invading True World experts from the Red Star Continent.
"Uncle… It's not looking good. Right now, it seems like our four supreme tribes can come out victorious in all of this, but I've already confirmed there's a huge possibility that we will eventually collapse due to internal matters as well…"
The man looked at Rudecka with a slightly despairing expression as he nodded in agreement. "Then, when things get dire enough, we will take matters into our own hands and align ourselves with the far more stable powers in the Fae Region."
In the Daemon Region, it was already a foregone conclusion that it would be one of the epicenters of the wars. Numerous sects and clans found themselves in a dire conflict against the immensely powerful Demon Tribes in the area, along with demonic beasts and powerful monsters who aligned with no side. As more days passed, the situation would only grow more dire.
In a particular battlefield, littered with the deceased, a certain Hobgoblin demon stood, his Gold Tier 5 aura radiating fiercely. His right hand was clamped around the neck of a gravely injured female Gold Tier 3 Sect disciple of the Fighting Brawlman Sect.
"Stupid woman… I will have you give birth to my offspring. That is, unless you can tell me everything you know about the invading powers in the outside world…"
"Cough You… sick, bastard!! Cough!"
"I will give you one final warning… speak!"
The Hobgoblin Demon, Norg, ripped off parts of her bloody clothes, revealing her injured flesh as he licked his lips. The woman paled in fright and began to speak. After telling Norg everything he needed to know, she was eventually tied up and locked away, her future fate unknown.
Norg wore a grim expression on his face as he returned to his camp, a ragtag bunch mostly filled with Hobgoblin demons. Various injuries marred many of them.
"Let's meet up with the others… No matter what, we will go through with the plan to invade the Fanged Elf Kingdom!!" Norg declared with a deranged facial expression.
"Yeeeeaaaaaaahhhh!!!!!!"
The army following him shouted in utter excitement, heating up at the thought of plundering the Fae territory.
Seated in a war-torn region that had appeared in an area near both the Rudell Region and the Fae Region sat a man atop a thin, jagged mountain towering towards the sky. The dead bodies of various beasts, warriors, and cultivators were flung everywhere down the mountain. The man swiftly absorbed and concentrated essence throughout his scarred and tattered body. His long, tangled hair waved as if winds blew through them. On his lap sat a heavy greatsword with traces of blood lingering, slowly dissipating as if being absorbed. The sword, which initially appeared dull, slowly became more vibrant with time.
After a period, the man opened his eyes and muttered to himself. "Hmm, not yet. But I sense that soon enough, the boy will move, as the forces in the Fae Region will have no choice but to go on the offensive once they slowly become targeted. Heh, 'Laughing Blue Blade Reaper,' have you become stronger since then? Are you worthy of my aid?"
Suddenly, the man's energy exploded, his power elevating a level.
"Hmmph, just Gold Tier 3 for now… tch, it's taking far too long to regain my former cultivation."
The man closed his eyes as he once again meditated in silence.
In an unknown area within the Whispering Expanse True World, a man sat at the head of a pavilion, surrounded by kneeling cultivators with deep levels of cultivation. One of the kneeling figures spoke out.
"Master! We believe that the 'key' may currently be in the Fae Region. What's more, we suspect that 'they' are currently in the hands of the Fanged Elf Tribe."
"Ooh? Of all the places…" After a brief silence, he issued a command. "Then we shall continue as we planned, while making some adjustments. Ensure those fellows truly put effort into forcing those in the Fae Region to move. Also, beware of those who are likely secretly aligning themselves with them. The longer things are drawn out like this, the more complicated they will get."
"As you command, Master."
The meeting silently ended as the man, sitting on his throne, contemplated his next move alone.
"Damnit… so many bastards daring to plot against me and my Sect! Heh, I will make sure that they are annihilated or enslaved… and then I will capture the 'Key' and devour it! I will then swiftly make breakthroughs in cultivation so that I can escape the grasp of that man!! Red Star Continent? Purple Starmist Continent? Who cares!! I will make my entrance into a Middle Continent and set a foothold there! Tch! Even if he attempts to chase me down, I will be ready for him with the blessings of the 'Key'!!!! Hahahahahaha!!!!!!"
The man's roaring laughter filled the pavilion as his powerful Demonic energy quaked the room.
In an area located within the Whispering Expanse, a giant army filled with many individuals moved in the direction of one of the new openings to an Upper Land. Every force that opposed them or was even slightly in their way was disposed of without mercy. At the very center was a giant, flying magical vehicle loaded with all sorts of weapons. In this very vehicle lay the core powers of this force. In one section of the vehicle sat Groverton, the man who was the Mortal Shedding Realm Guardian of Whispering Havens City. Also seated in that room were seven Gold Tier experts: three of them being Golden Lords, and four Gold Tier 4 staged experts. Of the Gold Lords, two were none other than Kale and Zumboori.
One of the Gold Tier 4 experts suddenly received a transmission, then relayed it to Groverton. "Milord, I've received a message stating that the Tenma Satsuriku-shū Sect have begun to seriously make a move. It's suspected that their target is the Fae Region Upper Lands."
Groverton raised his eyebrows and mumbled, "So it's as we suspected. We were right to watch Lady Aeloria's movements back then. Heh, they even tried to throw everyone off using Dredger back then, but that guy himself is simply an uncaring menace, purposely suppressing his Mortal Shedding Realm breakthroughs."
"Lord Groverton, what will we be doing then?" Kale asked with curiosity.
"Heh, we obviously continue to follow the higher-ups' plans. There's a high likelihood their plans will definitely be to charge towards the Fae Region after cutting through this old land called the Kurdishaw Region."
With that, the giant army continued forward.
Back in Celebi Forest City, the Elf King sat on his throne, currently holding an audience with Aeloria, along with Jewleaf, the Queen, two other old Royal Fanged Elves from the Top of the World Tree inner sanctum, as well as Duke Stormvine and Duke Silverthorn. The two Dukes looked at Aeloria with a mixture of bitterness and envy. As for Jewleaf, the Queen, and the King, they looked at Aeloria in awe and excitement. The two Royal Elders looked on with slight smiles.
"Ah, how excellent! We have a new comrade who has reached our level. Congratulations to you, Lady Aeloria. You are now officially 'Mortal Lord' Aeloria to others from this point on."
"Such growth! At such speed, at that. Ah, how enviable!"
Aeloria offered a wry smile. "There is nothing to it, Elders."
"Haha, nothing to it indeed, for you. So how about it? Won't you come directly to the top of the World Tree to cultivate in that place?"
After hearing the Royal Elders' offer, Aeloria couldn't help but shake her head and adopt a serious expression. "Forgive me, Elders, but currently that is not something I can do… Though my uncle should be the one to join you, I'm sure you're aware of what's happening concerning our worldly affairs."
The two Royal Elders looked at each other and then nodded with serious expressions. Aeloria then continued. "There is something that I would like to report… Our Fae Region and all surrounding regions outside of it are most likely on the brink of becoming one of the center stages of this war. So I'd like to make a request which includes a certain plan based on what I could conclude with my foresight…"
The Fanged Elf King, with a serious expression on his face, didn't ask any questions about how she came to such a conclusion. He simply said one thing:
"Lady Aeloria, please give us the details."